Method for operating a vehicle and a vehicle which incorporates the method

Abstract

A method and an apparatus 12 which uses or calculates a temperature gradient of a portion 16 of a vehicle 10 to determine a value equal to or representative of a time before a maximum allowable operating temperature is reached by the portion 16 . If the value is less than a certain threshold, the apparatus 12 reduces the operating speed of the portion 16 and, in one embodiment, provides a warning signal to an operator of the vehicle 10.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A thermal control assembly comprising at least one sensor which is coupled to a certain portion of a vehicle and which provides a first temperature of said certain portion of said vehicle at a first time and a second temperature of said certain portion of said vehicle at a second time; and a controller which is coupled to said at least one sensor, which receives said first and second temperatures, which uses said first and second temperatures to calculate a time period, and which decreases a certain speed of said portion of said vehicle when said calculated time period is less then a certain period of time. 
     
     
       2. The assembly of  claim 1  wherein said certain portion of said vehicle comprises a transmission assembly. 
     
     
       3. The assembly of  claim 2  wherein said controller stores a temperature gradient function and uses said stored temperature gradient in combination with said first and second temperature values to calculate said time period. 
     
     
       4. The assembly of  claim 2  wherein said controller dynamically creates a thermal gradient function by use of said first and second temperature values. 
     
     
       5. The assembly of  claim 4  wherein said controller dynamically creates said thermal gradient function by curve fitting said first and second temperature values. 
     
     
       6. The assembly of  claim 2  wherein said assembly further comprises a selectively energizable light which is coupled to said controller and which is energized by said controller when said calculated time period is less than said certain period of time. 
     
     
       7. The assembly of  claim 2  wherein said assembly further comprises a selectively energizable audio generator which is energized by said controller when said calculated time period is less than said certain period of time. 
     
     
       8. The assembly of  claim 1  wherein said controller calculates said time period only when the temperature of said certain portion of said vehicle exceeds a certain threshold value. 
     
     
       9. The assembly of  claim 2  wherein said controller calculates said time period only when said certain portion of said vehicle has been continualy operating for a certain predetermined period of time. 
     
     
       10. A vehicle comprising a transmission assembly having a certain maximum allowable operating temperature and being operable at a certain speed; at least one sensor which is coupled to said transmission assembly, which measures a first, a second, and a third temperature of said transrmission assembly; and a controller which is coupled to said at least one sensor and to said transmission assembly, which receives said first, second, and third temperatures, which storably contains a thermal gradient function, which uses said second and third temperatures and said thermal gradient function to ascertain a calculated time in which said transmission assembly will exceed said certain maximum allowable operating temperature only when said first temperature exceeds a certain value, which storably contains a time value, which compares said calculated time to said time value and, based upon this comparison, selectively reduces the speed of said transmission assembly, effective to reduce the likelihood of said transmission assembly from having a temperature which exceeds said maximum allowable operating temperature. 
     
     
       11. The vehicle of  claim 10  wherein said controller ascertains said time in which said transmission assembly will exceed said certain maximum allowable operating temperature only after said transmission has been continually operated for a certain period of time. 
     
     
       12. The assembly of  claim 10  wherein said vehicle further includes a selectively energizable warning assembly which is coupled to said controller and which is energized when said speed of said transmission assembly is reduced by said controller. 
     
     
       13. The assembly of  claim 12  wherein said selectively energizable warning assembly comprises a selectively energizable light. 
     
     
       14. The assembly of  claim 12  wherein said selectively energizable warning assembly comprises a selectively energizable audio generator. 
     
     
       15. The vehicle of  claim 11  wherein said controller dynamically calculates said temperature gradient function.